Since they didn’t have a first-round pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers were expected to look at all available resources available to them so they could get their hands on a diamond in the rough.
They acquired the 35th pick in the draft, which they used on Michigan State University guard Max Christie, and they also signed a couple of undrafted rookie free agents.
One of them is Cole Swider, a 6-foot-9 forward out of Syracuse University.
Swider was thought to have an outside chance of being taken in the second round of the draft, as several teams, including the Lakers, invited him for a workout.
Syracuse sharpshooter Cole Swider has agreed to a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Swider and Pippen Jr. take over the Lakers‘ two slots.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2022
In fact, the Lakers and two other squads asked him to come back for a second workout, which is often a good sign.